feveral ways, and to several imployments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time 'till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to hell gates, finds them fout, and who fat there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and difcover to him the great gulph between bell and heaven: with what dif ficulty be paffes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought. C4 Houthone the wealth of Ormus, and of Ind; TIGH on a throne of royal state, which far Or where the gorgeous east with richest hand To that bad eminence: and from despair Vain war with heav'n; and by fuccefs untaught, Powers, and Dominions, Deities of heav'n! ΤΟ 15 20 Yielded with full confent. The happier state Will envy whom the highest place exposes Your bulwark; and condemns to greatest fhare Of endless pain? Where there is then no good 30 Surer to profper than profperity 35 Could have affur'd us: and by what best way, 40 Whether of open war, or covert guile, We now debate: who can advise may speak. He ceas'd; and next him Moloc, fceptred King, Stood up, the strongest and the fierceft spirit That fought in heav'n, now fiercer by despair: 45 His truft was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in ftrength; and rather than be lefs, Car'd not to be at all; with that care loft Went all his fear: of God, or hell, or worse, He reck'd not; and thefe words thereafter spake: 50 My fentence is for open war: of wiles, More unexpert, I boaft not: them let thofe Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place CS |